This so called "mercy killing" gives the patient a chance to escape potentially long-term suffering and misery resulting from terminal diseases and conditions that are hurting and or slowly killing the patient. ... Thus, in what became a groundbreaking law, in 1976, California became the first state to allow terminally ill patients to die when such a patient chooses to withdraw further treatment. ... Competent, terminally ill patients should have the right to avoid pain and embrace a timely and dignified death. ... Many believe that a terminally ill patient has the right to avoid pa...

• Word Count: 5515
• Approx Pages: 22
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Its topic headings are How to Get Started, How to Find Out How Much the Patient Knows, Finding Out How Much the Patient Wants to Know, Sharing the Information, Responding to Patients" Feelings, and Planning Follow-Through.11 Respect for patient autonomy is an important principle, but caregivers also have autonomy. ... In some, the living will is in effect only if the patient is terminally ill and death is imminent.5 This can limit its practicality. ... Morphine given to relieve a terminally ill patient's pain may suppress respirations and bring about death. As long as relief of pain, ...

• Word Count: 2553
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate